Bread and Bread Alone...

Will set you free...
Well, perhaps not and that's too cliche.
It can be truly the finest point of any great dining establishment, however. Perhaps that is a rather bold statement, but it is in my opinion the bread at a restaurant and especially at a cafe marks an attendance to the simple yet overlooked points of a meal. Yes, not every meal need be preceded by a basket of bread but every sandwich should be stuffed between only the finest such stuff. Bread is not only a thing seldom and difficultly mastered, it is also a very straight-forward way of playing to the simplest of human sustenance. Bread is the basis for all other culinary creation, in my opinion and should be honored as such.

So in a cafe where great bread and good prices come together, a town called Northampton Massachusetts emerges.

Woodstar Cafe in NoHo is a place of balance. Their sandwiches are masterful and fresh, with a crunch coming not just from perfectly baked bread but from fresh ingredients within. The Sandwich titled "Emily's Favorite" is an ode to the potential stored within tofu and a fine multigrain loaf. It's big and satisfying.

Smoked Tofu at its very finest. Pass it for meat? One could but why bother?

The sandwich my dining companion enjoyed during my recent visit, The Berkshire, was a delight. With perfectly balanced pesto, roasted tomatoes, and chicken - yes chicken is growing on me, I'm sad to say - it was a fine approach to a seemingly simple sandwich. The rustic sourdough loaf was chewy and, well, sour as it should be.

Later in the day, stepping in for a brief snack before leaving, the cupcakes: one chocolate with buttercream raspberry frosting and all vegan - the other crumbly but deeply flavored lavender and pistachio with a light cream cheese frosting, were purely delighting.

Cupcakes: Little bundles of joy! Yes, even a blessing...

The tea selection was long and very well priced. Yellow tea. Yellow tea? I hardly ever see the newly-popularizing tea here.

I'm going back. I may just gain weight but I don't mind.

Really.

Westward Ho...

And On I go to another year of school; this time around it will be in Western Massachusetts as opposed to the Hudson Valley. Leaving Poughkeepsie behind is hard - leaving anyplace with roots is hard and so should it be. Settling in to a new school in Amherst won't be easy, but I am excited, somewhere deep down there.

Exploring my year and life to come, my mother and I decided to do some exploration of the Berkshires beyond the confines of my campus-to-be and discovered some good eats. Be it breakfast, lunch, dinner, or brunch the western hills of Massachusetts you seek, find it you will.

I did and I seriously doubt I have the force on my side...

Not all of the deserving restaurants I visited are here but be assured, in time they too will receive the credit they deserve! In order of my dining however, here are some of my favorites thus far...

And Moving on to the Main courses...

 Beginning with delicious Kale and Sweet Potato Risotto cakes...

My Tofu Kabobs were quintessential Umami and my mother's shrimp stirfry like Hibachi from heaven...

For breakfast the following morning, we dined at the Amanouz Cafe. I enjoyed what may have been the best omelette ever to cross my plate... With an extensive menu served breakfast, lunch, and dinner; with vegetarian, meat-feeding, and light snacking dishes, you can't go wrong.

 Moroccan spices, Turnip Greens, Salty brined Feta, and look at that sweet roll...Mmmmm

Dinner that day rounded things out with an artfully spin Pizza Pie. Marigold Cafe in Bennington, Vermont offers locally sourced and creatively crafted pizza at great prices. Huge and delicious salads too!

 Our Tremendous pie of Mozzarella, Feta, Parmesean, Artichoke, Eggplant, and Fresh Basil...

 Small, unassuming: just how I like my local cafes.

Lunch just prior to returning home was enjoyed at Hope and Olive where possibly the best brunch of my life was devoured. It's a farm-to-table restaurant, with great music, artwork - ambiance in a word. With food to match, I couldn't ask for any more.

 Simple shortbread and lemon curd to fire up the old jowls...

 All to savor the magical experience which was my Huevos Rancheros...

For my mother, her vegetable panini which I gather was delicious as I wasn't able to sample it...

And there in the background: an amazing "Porch Swinger" 'boozless' cocktail...

Wow, when can I eat there again... Any and every meal. Please...

Please soon...

Further, we enjoyed sandwiches simple but satisfying at cafe Lickety Split Mass MoCa; a colossal oatmeal scotchie at the uncompromisingly compact Elmers Store; supper at the sedate but inspired (and inspiring I might say) Old Heritage tavern.

A Midsummer...

Evening (and night's) meal. Yup, just a brief check-in. Food has been very good this July, so i'd jsut like to share a few notable dishes.

Just today I threw together a simple batch of baked Kale Falafel with a simple salad, Raita yogurt sauce, and a multigrain cous-cous of quinoa and brown rice. It was light and still filling for a pleasant summer dinner.

Falafal, nestled there like " 8 pounds 6 ounces... new born infant jesus ..." to quote a lingual giant.

And this past wednesday, I visited Happy's Bar and Kitchen in Fenway. It isn't a small space by any means, with tall ceilings and a wide bar space followed by a spacious dining room and attractive open kitchen. I appreciated the vintage look combined with a more modern shaggy-chic style and wide menu. They offered several pescetarian-friendly selections (such as my Veggie Dagwood below) as well as specials that may or may not fit the bill. Leading with deliciously chewy italian sourdough, my father enjoyed his omlette (a rotating daily special) and I my sandwich. I loved the hearty dense sandwich bread which could only be described as quintessential wheat sandwich loaf and even the fries - a delicacy I seldom sample even when good.

Oh, Sammy...

Prices were a bit high at times but certainly not any higher than comparable restaurants in the neighborhood and with ingredients of higher than many in the area.

I'd go. Be happy to.

Enjoi...

Burgahs and Burgahs and Burgahs...

At Wahlburgers there's more to eat than mere beef patties. Yes, there is Beef.
Where's the Beef?

Well at Wahlburgers right beside the Thanksgiving-Turkey Burger, Portabello Cap, and Salmon patty.
With a menu of fresh and common ingredients, there is still a collection of uncommon foods to be enjoyed. The Tater Tots come in the sweet and white potato varieties; the Onion rings which I did enjoy, were just coated enough to yield a crunch but not enough to at all mask the sweetness of the red onions it bound.

 Onion Rings are truly a thing of beauty...

I enjoyed the Salmon patty myself during my outting for an early Father's Day lunch. It was fresh and sweet - well cooked with a slightly crisp exterior from a good sear. A light aioli and fresh cucumber slaw. The bun was a heavenly brioche and just hugged its components.
My father enjoyed his Portabello burger and enough so that I didn't manage a taste but it looked delicious and messy. Just as it should be.

Small, yes; mighty, also

The interior of the restaurant is simple and modern, lined with large television screens and two different methods for ordering - table service or counter.

Give it a visit if you're on the south shore some time. It's reasonably priced, giving perfect not-too-big portions, and if you're a fan of Marky mark, a pilgrimage.

Enjoi!

Meenas Kitchen!

Indian Food! It's eclectic and could mean anything, really. I'm not a terrible fan of the classic "Indian food;" Saag, paneer, biryani, and masala are each a bit heavy for my stomach and taste. I love them don't get me wrong, but I can only eat so much and the next day, process so little. Meena's Kitchen is a bit different.
The small restaurant on Pearl Street in downtown Nashua, NH is a popular spot offering classic southern Indian street food. Almost like Indian tapas, you really need to dive in to experience all of the coordinating flavors. Luckily they offer a 6-course prix-fix everyday, rotating, so as to ensure your wallet stays full and taste-buds excited.
The food is spicy and flavorful, but not stereotypically heavy. Try everything and jsut eat what you like. I'll certainly be back with some friends of mine who love Indian (and are either currently or were in a former time, vegetarian).

Take some time out of your busy eating plans to give it a try! you can't really be disappointed, because there's something for everyone. At the least, the rice pudding is so sweet even the most novice ethnic palate will find some welcome flavor.

The latter half of my 6-course meal. Cabbage rice, Dhal, Squash, Raita, and Pudding...Mmmmm

A spicy-sour soup of spinach and lentils

Sour crepe with a tomato chutney. Parisian meets Italian, in India...

Enjoi!

First Meal?

... Well, not really, but I wanted to write a quick review of a great product I found looking for something easy to eat without molars. Kozy Shack Rice pudding has always been a great go-to. With some cinnamon, or one of the flavored varieties, I can eat it and eat it and eat it...
But for the lactose-Intolerant maong you, try Soyummy . I've so far only tried the rice pudding but With cherry, Lime, chocolate, and tapioca left to sample, I know I can expect to come back for more.

It has a strong vanilla taste, well cooked tender rice, and a unique smoothness unlike dairy-based puddings. It's slightly less sweet but equally as delicious as the standard Kozy Shack Rice pudding.
at 110 calories, 6 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein I love this stuff.

Classics...

Call it Occam's Razor, call it chemistry, or maybe just call it good bread. Old, simple; always good.

The newest member of my bread-baking family has driven the creation of a new kind bread in my kitchen. It's something more rustic than the simplest of American Sourdoughs yet more complex and coordinated than the plainest of back-of-the-flour-sac recipes. It's called a Miche made with something called a Levian.

Levain: sea monster, right?

No, not Nessy.

A Levain is a naturally leavening pre-ferment not unlike a sourdough. While a leviathan may well be soothed by its sweet product, it is not nearly so delicious or attainable.

Now I love to bake with sourdough. The distinct sourness of the acids, the nurturing of the bubbly culture, and the tremendous rise it produces within the loaf in question - what's not to like?

Well exploring an older style of baking and using only salt, water, and whole wheat flour a great piece of baking history can be brought into the present.

 

The Risen Loaf: Pre-bake

Thanks to Local Breads, a great cookbook from one of my favorite bakeries in scenic Rhinebeck, New York I've found a whole new world of old  loaves to explore. I truly implore you to read this tremendous book; it's a bit daunting in some places but really gives a good feel of where bread baking has been and is a definite next-step for the experienced baker.

With a week or so of feeding and nurture, several hours of proofing, fermentation, a few kneads, and a spell in a hotter-than-usual oven, the product of one recipe for Rustic Miche produced wonderful results.

 The sadly fallen loaf, delicious nonetheless. Look at that gluten!

Buy the book, Bake some bread, Enjoy!

Chez Henri; With it

So I got a Gilt City coupon for a 3 course dinner for two with 2 entrees, 2 starters, and a dessert. It's a service not unlike Groupon, Google Deals, or Living Social - I recommend them all.

So as an early birthday gift I took my mother recently and enjoyed what was among the best meals I have ever had.
Chez Henri is located exactly between Cambridge and Porter squares on a side street just off of Mass Ave in Boston. It's a fusion between French and Cuban; sauces and styles beckon to the Western culinary tradition as flavors and dishes tend to lean nearer the equator. Dishes such as Bouillabaisse, Steak-Frites, Ceviche, French onion Soup, chickpea crepes, Seared Flounder...
The list goes on, never mind an extensive and well liked bar menu including empanadas and what is called the best Cuban Sandwich in Boston.
I enjoyed what was perhaps some of the best service I've ever received at a restaurant and a comfortable environment, not to mention food. Oh the food!
I had the Bouillabaisse of shrimp, crawfish, Cod, Salmon, Mussels, Clams, and a Deliciously salty-spicy-garlicky broth. With a Ceviche of the freshest calamari and sweet mango, I was quite satisfied. My mother had a delicious and generous crab and blue cheese salad - two flavors which complimented nicely despite the strength of the cheese and mild sweetness of the crab - before a trout dish with rock shrimp and root puree. We each enjoyed our dinners immensly and hardly had room to demolish the amazing lemon-berry Creme Brulee that followed it all down.

I'd certainly frequent Chez henri were I better funded and closer to the city but I will be back, nonetheless.

Photos to come!

Back In Town

The Beantown. Thank god for Spring vacation and what a week to have it too! Yesterday I enjoyed good conversation and a delicious Thai Peanut Tofu wrap at Blue Shirt Cafe in Davis with the best of company from Tufts University. I must say if you're ever in Davis Square and you can't decide on what restaurants to count out, it's not going to get any easier because Blue Shirt certainly isn't one to skip over. Oh Davis Square how I missed you...

The Organized Chaos of Something Great...

But today, on my way north from south of the city I stopped in East Boston for sweet sustenance at Flour Bakery + Cafe on Farnsworth street. There are three of the charming bakeries scattered across Boston and this one certainly sees its fair share of patrons from the bustling business district it nested beneath. It was a busy shop and I waited about ten minutes for my take-out order but considering the customer to employee ratio I observed it was a feat of cooperative capacities.

I enjoyed a delicious Grilled Tofu panini stacked thick with crisp roasted vegetables, salty-umami Olive tapenade and perfectly soft-crusted bread. The sandwich was substantial but sadly I devoured it before realizing I had intended to photograph it!

Good? No. Perfect.

Beyond the extensive sandwich menu sure to please carnivores and veg-heads alike (Hummus to Portabello Melts and Tofu for the latter and Curried Chicken, Roast Beef, Grilled Chicken-Avocado, and Turkey-Cranberry for a sample) the bakery treats... Oh the sweets...

Soups, salads, and stuffed savory breads are rotated daily alongside delectable-sounding quiche (Portabello and spinach I think it was today) and pizette.

I'd love to stop in some Sunday morning and sip a steeping tea while enjoying the sticky residue of a cinnamon bun or piping oatmeal bowl. Perhaps next time...

Cookies, Cakes, Croissants, Cross Buns... Too much!

Never.

So if you're in the vicinity of one of these gluten-stronghold stop in. Even if you've jumped the wheat-ship there's something you'll enjoy, I assure you, even if its the company of as good friend and a few good cups of tea.

Veggies Out of this...

Galaxy! At Veggie Galaxy they just keep coming and joyfully so. For so long have I wanted to indulge the vegetarian/vegan getting pushed down by the burden of cafeteria food. But no longer; more specifically my craving is sent into temporary remission and now it will probably only be worse come March vacation.

Anyways, to the crooks of the matter: the food. Veggie Galaxy is owned and operated by the same people who run Veggie Planet at Club passim in Harvard Square. Galaxy is a more sit-down diner style joint whereas the former is a very noisy, less intimate (if a diner can be intimate) place. I love both restaurants' menus but Veggie Galaxy caters to a more comfort food-seeking audience.

Located In Central Square between Harvard and MIT, next to The Middle East and amongst so many good restaurants, it still stands out. It's flashy to look at and really serves food unlike most restaurants in the area. I've never been to the Cambridge location of Life Alive, just a few blocks away, but it's not at all the same in my opinion. The food is fresh and moderately healthy (still good diner style food remember) but creative and entirely enticing. Serving everything from omlettes to pancakes and French Toast, to Veggie Burgers, Open Faced Seitan Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese (ze) and Tempeh Ruebens. The fillings in the omlettes (also available as tofu omlettes) are many, as are the toppings for the burgers.

All That Burger Goodness. I'm a Sucker for a good house-made patty...

My fellow diner and I enjoyed the Salad special to start, an arugula salad tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette topped with chopped walnuts, roasted squash, and a very light goat cheese, all dotted by tart dried cherries. It was sweet and very generous considering we split it. The waitress even split the salad before bringing it to us - very thoughtful!

I had the Mushroom Chickpea burger topped with sauteed leeks, roast Brussel Sprouts, and a corn-apple salad. It was all the vegetables I love this time of year tossed together. With a delicious homemade Brioche bun and Cabbage slaw, it was fantastic. I'm pretty sure I'm still full from it this morning. My fellow diner had some of the most delicious baked mac and cheese (vegan, if you so like) I've ever tasted, with a creamy herbed ricotta and crisp bread crumbs. It was spicy from cracked black pepper, spiced just right with oregano, maybe dill, some basil perhaps... I can't be sure but it was terrific.

The prices were very good and the desert looked amazing - all vegan and all enormous - but alas we were too full.

I'll go back as soon as I can. The food was great, the bill reasonable, the space clean, bright, and very lively; for a reasonably new restaurant the staff was on top of everything and very attentive. I'll recommend it to carnivores, omnivores, and veggies alike!

Galaxy Site

Enjoi!

It's Christmas!!!

No ellipsis here - there's no space for anything extra when there's such a great season to blog about!

It's been a painful Thanksgiving-Christmas period to work through. Finals, Life, my first job (food service isn't what I envisioned. I should have figured...) But now, as I sit upon my cushy couch, The Bread Bible beside me, lights twinkling, and vegaan eggnog in my stomach ruminating with real food. Wow, life can be comfortable again, I'd nearly forgotten.

Today is a big update or series thereof. My hand at Seitan and its transformation into Bourgegnon, Gingerbread Waffles, Baking galore, and a few good breakfasts. My goodness, the season of eating is that much better when it so starkly contrasts the doldrums of the college cafeteria. It really is a thing to behold - the kitchen in full whir, lights twinkling, a mug of steaming beverage, whatever it may be, in one hand and a good recipe in the other. I missed home.

Following a basic recipe for Seitan from scratch and whipping together a basic stock, I mimicked the Seitan Bourguignon from What The Hell Does A Vegan Eat. It was delicious atop a torn slice of whole-wheat Scali bread.

Seitan: More tender than any meat you'll ever meet.

It's Been a Long Time...

Since I've posted much. Not for lack of tinned in the kitchen. Just last night I even made some whole wheat butterscotch blondies to ship home to the better half. They came out perfectly (I forgot to shoot a pic! Next time...). But life is busy at school. Luckily I'm getting more comfortable in my kitchen but I miss my home's nonetheless.
Anyways, here are a few pics of what ive been up to:
Some decent food from our cafe even! Real tofu once...

The Great Bakery at Rhinebeck, NY: Bread Alone

I loved my lentil patty but this Sweet Potato and Kale Soup was warm and satisfying - Vegan too!

Changing gears, Heres my hand at vegan cookies - mostly because I didn't have eggs. I adapted it from this Post Punk Kitchen recipe

Here are my Petite Apple Pies from the pies I picked a few weeks ago...

Finally, the "real" tofu I had in the midst of culinary depths...

When I get a chance, I'll post my Pumpkin (improved) cookie recipe from my weekend home at a Pumpkin festival in New Hampshire. Enjoy (in advance!)

Business....

I've been busy. Just got back from Germany - quite a vacation. I must say, it far exceeded my expectations for the European continent. I can't wait to go back; I'm certainly going to need to brush up on my French as German was completely foriegn to me.

A funny thing about the food there - for a region of tremendously fresh and available fruits and vegetables, meat is astoundingly popular and inexpensive. I had known that the region is more interested in organics than vegetarianism, but I hadn't expected to have Spaetzle-five-ways. That said, the food was always very good. Below are a few images of my German gastronomic exploration!

Airline food: Always Order Vegetarian...

The First Supper: Spaetzle with steamed veggies and stewed mushrooms.

Donor Kebap: Vegetarian Style. Thank you cultural fusion...

Vegetarian Sushi at Munich's premier (apparently) vegetarian eatery...

...And their delectable Apple Strudel with vanilla Cream.

Venturing out of Munich we ate in Saltzburg, a small town called Fussen, Ingolsdadt, Innsbruck. It was quite a trip.

One of the many Spaetzles: Gruyere like most. Good, but enough "mac-and-cheese" for a while
Delicious Mushroom Goulash and a Dumpling the size of a softball!

I Tell you, the produce there...

And don't forget the delicious baked goods. This bread came from a wonderful B&B in Schwangau, Austria. The Landhotel Guglupf. I recommend it.

And yes, I'm told the meat and sausages were very good. My dad had several sausages, wiener schnitzel, and other regional delicacies. I'll stick to my vegetables.

Enjoi your own escapes and outtings, wherever they may be.